NAIROBI, Kenya — The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has formally approached the court, filing an application to compel Safaricom Kenya Limited to release crucial call records and associated data.
This information is sought in connection with individuals suspected of involvement in the death of blogger Albert Omondi Ojwang, who died while in police custody.
Through investigator Abdirahman Jibril, IPOA’s application requests court orders that would grant access to a comprehensive range of documents.
These include account opening details, registered subscriber information, detailed call data records, and travel patterns linked to 17 specific mobile phone numbers.
The requested data spans a critical period, from June 4, 2025, at 5:00 a.m., up to June 8, 2025, at 12:00 a.m.
Additionally, IPOA is seeking a judicial directive that would mandate Safaricom to appoint an authorized officer.
This officer would be responsible for issuing a Certificate of Production of Electronic Evidence, in accordance with Section 106B(4) of the Evidence Act, to validate the authenticity of any electronic records provided for legal use.
The authority has also requested that a copy of any resulting court order be duly served to the Chief Executive Officer of Safaricom Kenya Limited.
According to the filed application, IPOA is conducting an investigation into the suspected death in custody of Albert Ojwang, an offense contrary to Section 203 of the Penal Code.
The authority is acting under its statutory mandate, as stipulated by Sections 6 and 7 of the IPOA Act, to conduct this inquiry.
The requested data pertains to mobile phone numbers allegedly utilized by persons of interest during the specified period.
IPOA argues that this information will be instrumental in identifying the registered users of these numbers and analyzing their communication and movement patterns.
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Such analysis is deemed crucial for determining whether any legal action should follow.
The court has been informed that Safaricom is the legitimate custodian of the relevant subscriber data, including call logs and location records, which are considered vital for ensuring a full and impartial investigation.
IPOA further noted that the majority of the required documents exist in electronic form and will necessitate certification to comply with evidentiary standards for digital records.
“Safaricom Kenya Limited holds crucial information and documentation that will significantly aid in ensuring a comprehensive, impartial, and conclusive investigation into this incident,” IPOA stated in its application, underscoring the critical role the telecommunications giant plays in the ongoing probe.
